In the old days, ships that were used on inland waters, were build with flat bottoms to enable them to sail in shallow waters. To prevent them from drifting sideways with the wind, they were fitted with leeboards that could be raised or lowered as the situation demanded

One of these flat-bottomed ships was the Frisian Tjalk or Skûtsje. Every year a regatta of several days is being held on the Frisian lakes, in which the Skûtsjes of different towns complete for the honor to win the race for their hometown.

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